Uncle Tom's Cabin eBook

“Well, since you must know all, it is so.
I have agreed to sell Tom and Harry both; and I don’t
know why I am to be rated, as if I were a monster,
for doing what every one does every day.”

“But why, of all others, choose these?”
said Mrs. Shelby. “Why sell them, of all
on the place, if you must sell at all?”

“Because they will bring the highest sum of
any,—­that’s why. I could choose
another, if you say so. The fellow made me a high
bid on Eliza, if that would suit you any better,”
said Mr. Shelby.

“The wretch!” said Mrs. Shelby, vehemently.

“Well, I didn’t listen to it, a moment,—­out
of regard to your feelings, I wouldn’t;—­so
give me some credit.”

“My dear,” said Mrs. Shelby, recollecting
herself, “forgive me. I have been hasty.
I was surprised, and entirely unprepared for this;—­but
surely you will allow me to intercede for these poor
creatures. Tom is a noble-hearted, faithful fellow,
if he is black. I do believe, Mr. Shelby, that
if he were put to it, he would lay down his life for
you.”

“I know it,—­I dare say;—­but
what’s the use of all this?—­I can’t
help myself.”

“Why not make a pecuniary sacrifice? I’m
willing to bear my part of the inconvenience.
O, Mr. Shelby, I have tried—­tried most faithfully,
as a Christian woman should—­to do my duty
to these poor, simple, dependent creatures. I
have cared for them, instructed them, watched over
them, and know all their little cares and joys, for
years; and how can I ever hold up my head again among
them, if, for the sake of a little paltry gain, we
sell such a faithful, excellent, confiding creature
as poor Tom, and tear from him in a moment all we
have taught him to love and value? I have taught
them the duties of the family, of parent and child,
and husband and wife; and how can I bear to have this
open acknowledgment that we care for no tie, no duty,
no relation, however sacred, compared with money?
I have talked with Eliza about her boy—­her
duty to him as a Christian mother, to watch over him,
pray for him, and bring him up in a Christian way;
and now what can I say, if you tear him away, and
sell him, soul and body, to a profane, unprincipled
man, just to save a little money? I have told
her that one soul is worth more than all the money
in the world; and how will she believe me when she
sees us turn round and sell her child?—­sell
him, perhaps, to certain ruin of body and soul!”

“I’m sorry you feel so about it,—­indeed
I am,” said Mr. Shelby; “and I respect
your feelings, too, though I don’t pretend to
share them to their full extent; but I tell you now,
solemnly, it’s of no use—­I can’t
help myself. I didn’t mean to tell you this
Emily; but, in plain words, there is no choice between
selling these two and selling everything. Either
they must go, or all must. Haley has come
into possession of a mortgage, which, if I don’t
clear off with him directly, will take everything
before it. I’ve raked, and scraped, and
borrowed, and all but begged,—­and the price
of these two was needed to make up the balance, and
I had to give them up. Haley fancied the child;
he agreed to settle the matter that way, and no other.
I was in his power, and had to do it.
If you feel so to have them sold, would it be any better
to have all sold?”